Page 176 - Adventures in Africa

tumbled, I perceived that it was about twelve feet 111
depth, with a bank of earth about seven feet high
left in the centre, broad at the bottom, and narrowing

towards the top. The fore legs of the giraffe had
sunk into one side of the hole, the hinder legs into
another, the body resting on the narrow bank, so

that the creature in spite of all its struggles could
not possibly extricate itself,

I left the natives to take possession, and rode on
endeavouring to avoid the pit-falls, of which I had
little doubt there were many on my way. I had, of
course, to go much slower than I should otherwise

have done. Though two or three times I nearly got
caught, I safely reached the camp, Stopping merely

to take some refreshment, I again set off with the
oxen, to bring in the produce of our chase. W e
found that it was necessary to be quick about it, lest

the natives should find that we had killed the ele­
phants and appropriate the tusks. They, however,
had hitherto been so busily employed in chasing the

giraffes that they had not discovered the elephants.
We took possession of the tusks, and as much of the
meat as our party could consume.

Mr. Welbourn had been almost as successful,
having killed two fine elephants and a couple of
deer. Next day we continued our journey northward.

In passing over the plain, while I Tarry and I were
riding on ahead, we caught sight of an animal occa­
sionally rising out of the ground and then disap­

pearing.
“ That must be a beast caught in a trap or pit-falV ’

said Ilarry ; “ let's go and see what it is.”